Oh, did you like that mountain Aulë? Was that your favorite mountain? Oh gosh I’m so sorry I promise I won’t knock down any of the others you painstakingly built up over the last eon WHOOPS THERE I GO AGAIN, BUTTERFINGERS.

Only one more page to go before I start a new arc and switch to a less time-consuming style! Telling a story at the speed of my coloring skills is just not going to get me through another six pages. *wobble*

___ I had a dream about the origins of Sauron/Mairon the Maiar, and his time spent in the service of Aulë the Smith. Now I am trying to put some of that dream-material into a comic.

I want to explore some of the empty margins in the history of these characters, simply because there is a lot about Middle Earth theology that frustrates me a great deal, and I feel like the motivations of a lot of the 'dark' characters are not explored in the books at all (or at least, not to my satisfaction). So this is my sort of self-indulgent, mini "Paradise Lost" for the Silmarillion. XD

Your father-son relationship between Mairon and Aule is so adorable and perfect *breaks down in Mairon and Aule feels* I've wanted so badly to find something where someone actually pays heed to the fact that, in older versions of the stories Tolkien referred to the more powerful maia as the children of whatever Vala they followed, and that makes Mairon Aule's son. I just think it gives the story so much more depth. And half of me is raring to get to the 'seduction by Melkor' part, but... I also just want to whack Mairon on the head and tell him 'Your dad's right. Stay away from Melkor!' because he's so cute as an innocent young maia. I'm eagerly awaiting the next part! Usually I prefer the phobs design for Mairon and Melkor, but your fiery Melkor is so cute and evil he's really endeared himself to me already.

Thank you so much!! I'm so happy to share and know you're enjoying my interpretation. Don't worry the seduction part is coming up soon! Kids, they never listen. XD

^_^; I have mixed feelings about Phobs' Mairon/Melkor, even though it's gorgeous. I'm really pleased you like my designs as well! <3 The Melkor I imagine when I read the books is really difficult to pin down to one concept, and even harder for me to draw, so I'm trying to work with a version that is close to what I see in my head but also workable in a comic format. It's really nice to know that people are enjoying it, even though I'm still figuring things out as I go.

Honestly, I really love seeing different interpretations, because it's the mythology of Middle-Earth; it makes total sense that the Vala and Maia would be seen different ways and present themselves different ways.

Okay, first thing I thought after I stopped gasping from awe, was *points at that rocket Melkor*

"I'm burning through the skies Yeah! Two hundred degrees! That's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit I'm trav'ling at the speed of light!I wanna make a supersonic man out of you! "

And the whole rest of lyrics of "Don't Stop Me Noiw" fits so much XDDDDD [link]

And Mairon is like OuO *realizes he wants to be a supersonic man when he grows up*

But gods, Melkor, so damn appealing and sexy here! alkasjdlkjaskdjk And the way you composed this panel with him flying through the mountain and the close-up of his face... you are a wonder *u* I will cry on the day this goes grayscale, I will. And the colored Mufasa pic just... all the feels! (you do know I reblogged that first wip here, don't you 8P [link] )

And I can so tell he's thinking of Melkor on the last panel while working, he just has that expression XDDD

I had to stop and eat breakfast before I let myself read your and Zlu's replies because I was overwhelmed with feelings. XD

ROCKET MELKOR <3 <3 <3 <3 lololol I am embarrassed now about my Mufasa-Aule scribble because I now realize that I gave him one of Scar's quotes and now the joke doesn't make as much sense. XDDDD ALSO WHAT IS WITH ME AND LION KING JOKES I DON'T EVEN KNOW XDDD Also your Tolkien-King story would be the saddest thing in the whole world. D: But at least there would be hilarious songs and geysers (or gaysers! XD because that also works) and fluffy lion babies and were-hyenas instead of werewolves. ;w;

Eeee you say such nice things about me I can't evennnnnnnn T_T Also you and many others are now crying about the grayscale thing XDDD I won't make it all gray and boring!Don't worry my preciouses! I would not abandon your eyes in a wasteland of flat grayness! <3 I think what I will do is post some examples of different styles and then we can see what works best. :3

Poor Mairon is hitting puberty. XD He will have Melkor posters on his walls next.

Oh, gosh, this is so gorgeous 8D And that Melkor, and that bursting through the mountain! 8D I can see why Sauron would fawn over him. I mean Mairon. And OMG, that Mairon in third panel "itty bitty Marion committee". [link] I mean that face, sho cute, I just want to snuggle him and give him tea and sweet things or petrol, or whatever he might fancy eating.

Your Melkor commentary in the description is the best thing ever! Such a mischievous Melkor you got there! 8D I love him!

That wave of light around Melkor makes me think he's breaking the sound barrier. It's my most favorite panel probably. Although all are gorgeous! I will miss the colors in new pages, but I understand very well the need to simplify it, cause geez, this must take ages.

I absolutely adore how you work with the colors. Perhaps at least some tones can be used in the new style? Like gradients or something...

Love Sauron's forge... I wonder what he is making there. I know it's probably a weapon or tool, but my first thought was ahem, well, such a metallic hook with a ball I have seen in porn... Is that what seeing Melkor inspired him to make? Straight to the point, Mairon...

Oh my, I like how your mind works! >XD I was going to just have him forge a bit of ornament for the Valar, but I like your idea much better. >w> Oh Melkor you didn't know what you were getting into with this seduction business...

I am sorry that I scared everybody by declaring that I was going to switch to greyscale. XDDD It won't be as boring as that, and I probably won't be able to stop myself from fully coloring in my favorite panels, hehee. ^_^; But yeah I have to cut down my production time or I will die making this comic. XD

XD Aaaw, candy petrol snacks and ITTYBITTY MAIRON COMMITTEE WAAAUGH. He is a just little bit kittenish right now, ten minutes after Aulė made him. But soon there will be badassery, I promise.